Robot Hoover: The Evolution Of Robot Hoover

The Best Robot Hoover

The best robot hoover can vacuum and mop without needing your attention, and it leaves your floors spotless. Its price is affordable and its high-end functions (such as a dirt detector) are a plus.

Make sure you regularly check your robot's brushes for tangled hair and large debris and clean them as required. Certain models also automatically empty the onboard dust bin and place it in an additional bin located at the base. This helps reduce the amount of fine dust that gets released into the air.

1. Roomba Q5 pro

The Q5 Pro, and its more expensive counterpart the Q7 Max Series are among the most powerful robotic vacuums we have tested. They are equipped with motors that are top-of-the class and can handle up to 5,500 Pascals. Similar to other iRobots that are premium (including the top model) they employ intelligent mapping to design precise floorplans and avoid household obstacles like cords and furniture leg. The robots also come with Carpet Boost, a feature that increases its power when it senses dirt on the carpet.

Both the Q5 as well as the Q7 Max Series get very good scores in our bare floor tests They're also particularly adept in cleaning pet hair. However, they have several flaws that prevent them from being our top pick. One of the Q5's shortcomings is that its navigation system does not have AI-powered obstacles avoidance. It's thus susceptible to become stuck on socks and shoes, and it couldn't navigate densely packed rooms very well in our tests. It doesn't also come with a camera to look around corners.

It's still a good value for those whose office or home has a lot of bare flooring and you're looking to save money. It's also extremely quiet and operates while you are at work or in school. It doesn't have the edge-to-edge floor vacuuming that is offered in the more expensive iRobot Roomba X30. It's also less effective at mopping. It relies on disposable wet wipes, which don't stick well and isn't able to handle dried-on debris. The Q5 does come with a self-emptying dock, though. And, if you have to, you can switch the mopping pad to dry ones in a matter of minutes.

2. iRobot Roomba

The iRobot Roomba X30 packs impressive mopping and vacuuming into a compact, sleek package. Its nimble navigation and intelligent cleaning maps make it simple to clean and efficient in tackling larger particles like pet hair. It also has a self-emptying bin, powerful suction, and support for virtual boundaries. It's the best robotic hoover for carpets, but it falls behind some competitors in terms of deep cleaning.

This high-performance vacuum and mop utilizes sensors to stay clear of obstacles and pet waste. It also learns the layout of your home over time and ensure better cleaning. You can change its cleaning schedule and set up zones using the app that is well-designed. Its battery life is average compared to similar models.

If the X30 Ultra is in a carpeted area, you can tell it to remove and extend its mops. This can help avoid cross contamination. Its flex arm is ideal to get under furniture with low levels and along baseboards. It doesn't perform as well on the washboard as our other Editors' Choice Picks, the Ecovacs Ozmo N8Pro+ and the iRobot Combo j9+.

During testing, X30 Ultra was the most efficient robot vacuum/mop which could clean an entire home with just 66 percent of its battery remaining. It did a great cleaning job on different flooring and rooms with different flooring types, including some area carpets. Its obstacle detection was superb, and it avoided fake dog turds, socks, shoes, and bundles of cables.

It's a little more expensive than iRobot Combo v9+ or iRobot Roomba j9+ but offers superior suction and an onboard bin that is automatically empty into the base. It also supports voice commands using Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It even cleans the floor after it vacuums this feature, which we've not seen on other robot vacuum/mop combinations.

3. iRobot Roomba X40

With an elegant circular design that appears like a regular Roomba than the competitors' boxy units this robot vacuum and mop combo is among the most appealing looking in our tests. The latest model from iRobot is also the most intelligent. It features advanced features, like enhanced dirt detection and future compatibility (another company’s robot that can wash mop pads on its own).

It's the only robotic autonomous vacuum/mop to score a perfect 10 in our tests, thanks to a combination of high-tech sensors that include a camera, structured light system and multiple lasers. The X40 Ultra is also the only robot we tested that is fully self-refill and empty its base station, and it boasts industry-leading 12,000Pa suction and self-cleaning mop pads.

The X40 is, like the other iRobot products, is simple to operate. It comes with an intuitive mobile application interface and is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit. The only real drawback is that it's still quite loud that could be an issue if you use it in the morning before work or in the evening as you attempt to sleep.

It's also quite expensive but not as much as the Ecovacs MaxV Ultra or the Roborock S8 Omni, which are equally capable and better looking. This is a dual-purpose vacuum that is very efficient however it's more expensive and make more noise.

iRobot L20 Ultra

The L20 Ultra is the top-of-the high-end robot vacuum and mop. It has a range of advanced features that will help you forget your chores. The L20 Ultra is a hands-free cleaning device like Ecovacs top-of-the-line X2 Omni or Roborock's S8 Pro Ultra. It comes with a multi-function dock that will automatically emptys the bin of the vacuum, refills the water tank, and cleans and dries mop pads.

The smart robot vacuum reviews uses an array of LIDAR and structured light to map out the floor plan and detect obstacles, making it more efficient than some of its premium competitors. It also has a front-mounted camera for real-time detection of hazards but this was not 100% foolproof during our tests and was often confused by power cords or other obstructions.

The vacuum cleaner comes with a maximum suction of 7,000 Pascals which is more than enough to do the job. It also has "Intelligent Dirt Detection", that regulates the amount of time the vacuum works and also adjusts the frequency of cleaning for various areas of the house according to the amount of dirt they are.

For bigger homes, it's worth opting for models with spot or zone cleaning modes that allow you to instruct the robot to clean a specific area of your home using the app or voice commands. If you have furniture, a stair mode is also useful. Finally, a recharge and resume feature that lets your robot vacuum pick up right where it left off is ideal for busy families.

5. iRobot Roomba RX3

The RX3 is more advanced than the price suggests. It's a pro at cleaning, removing 55% of debris in our tests (it was second only to the Roomba Q5 Pro). It also mops with one pad and a rotating motion that is more efficient than most of the mop cleaners with robots that we've tested. It's also self-sufficient, with a fully-featured app as well as a self-emptying, washable base.

The iRobot application is designed to help you navigate the mapping process, which gathers information on your floorplan as well as any "no go" areas that you've marked on the map. You can use it to create cleaning schedules, set up an area for cleaning or to prioritise your dirtiest rooms to improve performance. The app comes with a variety of options, including seasonal suggestions, custom mapping, and advanced cleaning settings.

Its shape is more rectangular than most other robot vacuums, which means it is able to reach corners and underneath furniture better. It has an impressive 8,000 Pascal suction, as well as clever combs for removing pet hair. You can also create a spot-cleaner that will thoroughly clean the area.

The Miele Scout RX3 Home Vision HD is a more sleek, cheaper alternative to iRobot Roomba. It's got a more attractive, Dolce & Gabbana-esque design and its twin cameras look like cute eyes. It's good at vacuuming, but it is more susceptible to get caught on low thresholds and is a bit noisier than the other top robotic vacuums we've tried. It also has a less intuitive app and a tiny base station that doesn't double as an emptying bin.